BEA2025: Full Schedule

BEA2025
Welcome to the BEA2025 convention program! All BEA sessions and events take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center’s West Hall, 3rd floor.

To create a schedule, please Log In or Sign Up on the upper right corner of the screen. Users can create their own profile and build schedules. Please use the menu on the right side of the page to search and filter for sessions by Interest Division, Session Type, Student Interest or Special Event - and then add them to your schedule.
Keep checking back for event registration, speaker announcements, and more details. Need answers ASAP? Reach out to our event planning team at help@BEAweb.org for info and more.

Keep checking back for event registration, speaker announcements, and more details. Need answers ASAP? Reach out to our event planning team at help@BEAweb.org for info and more.

8:30am PDT

Welcome and BEA101

Saturday April 5, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am PDT

W312/313

Welcome to BEA2025! Grab a cup of coffee and a muffin and get the inside knowledge on BEA initiatives, volunteer opportunities and journals. Panelists will give you tips on navigating BEA's annual convention and NAB Show.

Moderators

Adam J. Kuban

Professor, Ball State University

Professor — reporting & writing, documentary storytelling, sports, science/sustainability, community engagement, (critical) service learning, project-based curriculum

Speakers

Thom Baggerman

Professor, Point Park University

Hmmm, who am I...I am a Professor in the Point Park University School of CommunicationI teach Media & Society, Media Literacy, Video Production, Multimedia, and other random things.I'm involved with our School of Continuing and Professional Studies, working on microcredentials, certificates... Read More →

Jennifer Meadows

Professor, Chico State University

Jennifer Meadows is a Professor of Media Arts in the Media Arts, Design, and Technology Department at California State University, Chico. She is the 2023-2024 BEA Secretary/Treasurer. Her research and teaching focuses on communication technology, emerging technologies, and video... Read More →

Glenda Balas

Professor, University of North Texas - Dallas

Dr. Glenda Balas is a Professor in Communication and Technology at the University of North Texas at Dallas. She was formerly Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences at UNT Dallas; Professor and Chair of the Communication and Journalism Department at the University of New Mexico; and Chair... Read More →

Heather Birks

Executive Director, Broadcast Education Association

Saturday April 5, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am PDT
W312/313

11:30am PDT

Let's Talk About It

Saturday April 5, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT

W301

Everyone dreads it, having challenging discussions as administrative leaders with co-workers. However, no one escapes unscathed. This panel shares communication strategies and practices for navigating conversations with difficult faculty and staff and when the answer has to be “no.” What’s on your list of what to do and not do?
Moderator: Pat F. Sanders, University North Alabama
Panelists: Kim Fox, American University in Cairo
Jennifer Bailey Woodard, Middle Tennessee State University
Pat F. Sanders, University North Alabama

Moderators

Pat Sanders

Department Chair/Professor/DEI Director, University North Alabama

Hello! I am Chair for the Department of Communication. In addition, I am the Director for Intercultural and Engagement Initiatives in the College of Arts, Sciences and Engineering at the University of North Alabama. I also serve as the District 2 Representative for BEA. I love meeting... Read More →

Speakers

Jennifer Bailey Woodard

Assistant Dean, Middle Tennessee State University

Dr. Jennifer Bailey Woodard, who was trained and educated in journalism as an undergraduate at MTSU, joined the faculty of the School of Journalism and Strategic Media after graduating from the University of Georgia with an M.A. in mass communication. She received her Ph.D. at Indiana... Read More →

Kim Fox

Professor of Practice, American University in Cairo

The first and only double BEA Best of Festival Winner in the same year; podcaster (Ehky Ya Masr Podcast) and executor of the podcasting trifecta: teaching, researching and producing podcasts.https://soundcloud.com/ehkyyamasrFounder and organizer of PodFest Cairo, Egypt and Africa's... Read More →

Saturday April 5, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT
W301

Multicultural Studies, Skills/Practice | Gender & Sexuality, Skills/Practice | BEA, Skills/Practice

11:30am PDT

Representation of BIPOC/Queer Women & Its Impact Beyond Content Creation

Sunday April 6, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT

W303

This panel explores strategies and pathways for BIPOC and queer women to assert their presence, advocate for inclusivity, and navigate the journey toward finding a voice and claiming space in the TV, film, and news media industries, both behind and in front of the camera. Additionally, this study seeks to illuminate how BIPOC and queer women negotiate visibility, authenticity, and agency in a white male-dominated field where their voices are often marginalized.
Moderator: Conci Nelson, Missouri State University
Panelists: Morgan Butler, Lindenwood University; JOCELYN B MILLANA, Missouri State University; Rowena Pedrena, University of Arkansas

Moderators

Conci Nelson

Missouri State University

Speakers

Morgan Butler

Lindenwood University

Jocelyn Millana

Associate Professor, Missouri State University

Assistant Professor-Missouri State University

Rowena Pedrena

Assistant Professor, University of Arkansas

Rowena Pedrena is a Peabody and Emmy Award-winning television producer with more than a decade of experience in scripted, reality, and documentary formats for feature films and television. Her credits include work featured on Netflix, ABC, NBC, CBS, CNBC, PBS, TLC, History Channel... Read More →

Sunday April 6, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT
W303

Gender & Sexuality, Research/Theory | BEA, Research/Theory

10:15am PDT

The Pride Flag is Printed in Gayscale: Gender Identity, LGBTQ+, Body Image, and Depiction of the “Other” in the Media

Monday April 7, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am PDT

W306

Diversity in media representation matters. Many say we’ve made great strides in the depiction of gender, LGBTQ+, ethnicity, and body type in today’s media, but stereotypes still abound, and the straight, white, thin, cisgender male still seems practically ubiquitous. What exactly does the future hold? This panel seeks to promote discussion of prevalent and controversial issues related to depiction of the “Other” in media, and explores how we as educators can better teach them.
Moderator: Roger Allman, Grand Valley State University
Panelists: Jennifer Rachel Billinson, Nazareth University; Victor D. Evans, Seattle University; Alexandra M. Vilela, James Madison University

Moderators

Roger Allman

Grand Valley State University

Speakers

Jennifer Billinson

Nazareth University

Alexandra Vilela

James Madison University

Victor Evans

Monday April 7, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am PDT
W306

Gender & Sexuality, Research/Theory | Multicultural Studies, Research/Theory | BEA, Research/Theory

11:30am PDT

Challenges and Triumphs of Black Women in Media: Personal Journeys and Professional Insights

Monday April 7, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT

W308

This panel brings together accomplished Black women who have navigated the complex media industry to share their personal and professional experiences. From overcoming barriers to representation and inclusion, to achieving groundbreaking successes, the panelists will offer insights into what it means to be a Black woman in media today. Through storytelling, reflection, and practical advice, they will discuss their challenges, triumphs and how their identities have shaped their careers. Attendees will gain a richer understanding of the unique journeys of Black women in media, as well as inspiration and strategies for advancing in the field.
Moderator: Kim Fox, American University in Cairo
Panelists: Traci Easley Williams, University of Oklahoma; Shari Okeke, Toronto Metropolitan University; Dorothy Bland, University of North Texas; Enid Patricia Wells, Kennedy-King College; Chetachi Egwu, University of Maryland Univ. College

Moderators

Kim Fox

Professor of Practice, American University in Cairo

Speakers

Traci Williams

Senior Lecturer, University of Oklahoma

Traci Easley Williams has over 25 years of immersive experience in higher education, specializing in film/television production, scriptwriting, visual media, and Africana studies. Kent State University (KSU), is where she embarked on her teaching career and eventually rose to the... Read More →

Shari Okeke

Toronto Metropolitan University

Dorothy Bland

Professor, University of North Texas

Dorothy M. Bland, Ph.D., is a journalism professor at the University of North Texas Frank W. and Sue Mayborn School of Journalism. In 2019, she was honored as one of the top 35 women in higher education by Diverse Issues in Higher Education magazine. During her tenure as a journalism... Read More →

Chetachi Egwu

co-founder, University of Maryland Univ. College

All things communication, academic, writing, film/media, production, fashion and journalism!

Enid Wells

Monday April 7, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT
W308

Multicultural Studies, Skills/Practice | Gender & Sexuality, Skills/Practice | BEA, Skills/Practice